MANILA- Typhoon “Ferdie” destroyed or knocked down 60 percent of Batanes’ electrical posts and powerlines when it battered the island last week, said National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) spokesperson Mina Marasigan in a press briefing Monday.

It would take about a month to restore power to normalcy in the Basco area alone, Marasigan pointed out.

Marasigan said “Ferdie” is the strongest typhoon to hit Batanes in recent history as said by long-time residents.

Total infrastructure and agriculture damage to Batanes was earlier placed at PHP65,949,000. This can be broken down into PHP37,748,000 for agriculture, PHP17,821,000 for school facilities and PHP10,380,000 for health offices. (PNA)